If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-caused illness such as mesothelioma, asbestosis or other related lung cancer, you may be stunned at first and next focus on immediate concerns such as treatment and care options. But once you get past the initial shock, you likely want answers and that’s understandable. You may also wonder if you’re eligible for an asbestos class action lawsuit.

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The first question most victims ask is “How did this happen?” When it comes to mesothelioma, the answer is that you (or your loved one) were intentionally exposed to a substance that corporations have long-known caused cancer. Studies linking asbestos to terminal lung cancer first emerged nearly 100 years ago. And when there’s widespread corporate corruption and cover-up that causes harm, there must be accountability.

Were Corporations Responsible for Harming Workers with Asbestos?

When corporations put profits before people and put workers in harm’s way, they should have to answer for this behavior – especially when it causes the deaths of over 100,000 workers as mesothelioma has done. Even when caught red handed, it’s very rare that corporations will apologize and compensate their victims. Instead, they go into cover up mode and vigorously avoid doing the right thing.

This is exactly what has happened with asbestos and mesothelioma. For years, corporations commissioned studies hoping to disprove links between asbestos (a cheap, readily available fire-retardant material) and illness. What their research showed instead was verifiable proof that exposure to asbestos caused terminal illnesses.

But rather than changing their behavior based on the results, corporations blocked publication of research, scuttled data and continued to promote the use of asbestos because it drove bottom line profits. For decades after they knew asbestos was toxic, companies continued to use it in plant construction, fireproofing materials, ships, auto parts, housing materials and a myriad of other components.

How Can Corporations Be Held Accountable for Asbestos Exposure?

In many cases of corporate abuse of workers or consumers, those affected can join together in what’s known as a class action lawsuit. This is appropriate when a large group of people are similarly affected by a corporate product or action and victims can sue together and split the damages proportionately.

However, when it comes to mesothelioma, there is one major reason that an asbestos class action lawsuit is not the answer. That reason is unpredictability. Given two workers laboring side by side for decades at the same job, both equally exposed to the same levels of asbestos, one may develop terminal mesothelioma and the other may not.

Workers who brought home asbestos fibers on their clothes and unknowingly exposed their families may never develop cancer, but we’ve seen cases where a spouse that handled work clothes developed mesothelioma as a result. With asbestos, exposure can be deadly for one and cause no effect in another. For class action lawsuits to be effective there must be consistent predictable outcomes.

If a Class Action Lawsuit Isn’t an Option, How Are Asbestos Victims Compensated?

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Because every mesothelioma case is unique, if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with this terrible illness, you need a reputable law firm that has extensive experience with asbestos cases. Asbestos exposure victims are best served by an individual lawsuit that covers your unique circumstances. You don’t need a class action lawsuit – you need an experienced attorney who will work just for you.

Bergman Draper Ladenburg has decades of experience with asbestos and mesothelioma cases. Over our years of successful asbestos litigation, we have compiled extensive records of corporations responsible for exposing workers to asbestos all over the country. Armed with this database, our experts will review your work history in an effort to pinpoint where you were likely exposed to the asbestos that caused your illness (or the illness of your loved one).

If you worked in a particularly high-risk industry (construction, shipbuilding, railroad, refineries, automotive, etc.) you may have been exposed on more than one job site. This is why an extensive review of your employment background and medical records is necessary. We have won over $490 million in damages and settlements for our asbestos and mesothelioma clients. Let us help you too.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis or asbestos-caused cancer, contact us as soon as possible to get started on your claim. Bergman Draper Ladenburg has an impressive track record of over $490 million in settlements won for our asbestos and mesothelioma clients. Put our decades of experience in asbestos law to work for you. Our expertise is yours for the asking. We are here to help. Contact us today.

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If you live in or around the Seattle-Tacoma area and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be wondering if you need an attorney. You may have even asked yourself “Are there any lawyers in Tacoma WA that handle asbestos cases?” The answer is yes. The even better answer is that you’re conveniently located close to the most successful asbestos and mesothelioma law firm in the entire Pacific Northwest.

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Bergman Draper Ladenburg has been fighting for the rights of asbestos exposure victims for nearly 20 years. Because of their extensive experience, they can assess your case and let you know if you’re owed compensation. You may think that getting a cancer like mesothelioma is just the way life goes. But it’s not – and you should know that. If you have mesothelioma, it’s very likely that this is something that was done to you – and could have been prevented.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that is usually diagnosed in late stages with a grim prognosis for its victims. More often than not, it’s a disease of blue collar workers who labored in skilled trades and had no idea of the dangers of the toxic fiber – asbestos – that they were working near. Even though asbestos distributors and many employers knew asbestos was risky, they chose to keep using it. Hundreds of thousands of workers like you were knowingly exposed to this toxic substance.

Why? Because asbestos is cheap and is a great fire and heat retardant, manufacturers and other companies used it extensively in products and construction. They relied on the inexpensive fiber to protect their buildings and products from fire and heat damage, but didn’t bother to protect their workers.

If you have mesothelioma and have no idea where or when you could have been exposed, that’s okay. Bergman Draper Ladenburg can help you figure that out. You could have been exposed on a job decades ago – 30, 40, even 50 years ago – that you’ve never considered was a problem because it was so long ago. When you’re diagnosed with cancer, your first thought is often “what did I do wrong?” In the case of mesothelioma – the answer is that you did nothing wrong at all – this was done to you.

If you’ve been given a terminal diagnosis, you may not want to focus any of the time you have left with dealing with a lawsuit or pursuing a claim against those who exposed you and caused your illness. But here are the facts – your history can quickly be assessed and the law firm can move forward with your case without it becoming a drain on your daily life. They will focus on getting you restitution while you focus on your health and making the most of your life.

Why bother, you ask? There are a few reasons it’s important. First, is that corporations must be held accountable for how they treat America’s workers. If you have children in the workforce, you wouldn’t want them to be intentionally exposed to a dangerous chemical. This can prevent abuse in the future.

Second, mesothelioma can require extensive medical care – even if it’s palliative. You should have the care you deserve to treat the illness you’ve had foisted on you. A financial settlement can help you afford proper medical care to prolong your life and make your daily life more comfortable as the illness progresses.

Third, you may want to leave a financial bequest to your family to take care of them when you’re no longer able to. If you worked in a high risk industry for asbestos exposure, there’s a chance your family members could have also been exposed and have yet to be diagnosed. A financial bequest can help them receive care they may need in the future, if they develop this terrible illness.

Here is just a small listing of some of the job sites in Tacoma that came with a high risk of asbestos exposure:

• Weyerhaeuser Building
• Dry Dock / Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Yard
• Commencement Bay (any maritime job site here)
• Todd Pacific Shipyards
• Northern Pacific Railroad (terminus, repair center and rail yards)
• Burlington Northern Railroad
• Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corp.
• Sound Refining
• Tacoma Boatbuilding Company
• US Oil and Refining

Beyond these specific job sites, there are dozens of others – too many to list – where Tacoma workers and residents were exposed. Here is a list by category of possible exposure sites:

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• Public and government buildings (including schools, courthouses, libraries, etc.)
• Steel, smelting and refinery companies
• Contracting, construction, roofing and tile companies
• Foundries and machining companies
• Any rail yard, depot or railway company
• Chemical and electrochemical companies (including power companies)
• Military facilities
• Brewing companies
• Paper and pulp companies
• Hospitals and medical buildings
• Older manufacturing facilities of any type
• Lumber yards and companies
• Gas, fuel and oil companies
• Gypsum and salt companies
• Auto repair and brake repair facilities
• Plumbing and heating companies

Even if you don’t see your industry or job site on the list, that doesn’t mean your mesothelioma isn’t linked to work exposure. If you wonder how this disease happened to you and have asked yourself “are there any lawyers in Tacoma WA that handle asbestos cases and can help me?” the answer is yes there are and yes we can help.

Contact Bergman Draper Ladenburg and we can review your case quickly – we won’t take up too much of your precious time – and let you know right away if you have a case. Because asbestos lawsuits are our area of expertise, we have detailed case files and records of exposure incidences all over the Pacific Northwest so we can pinpoint how your asbestos exposure occurred.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis or asbestos related lung cancer, contact us as soon as possible to get your claim started. We have a track record of winning significant settlements for our clients and are ready to help you. We have won over $490 million in asbestos exposure damages for people just like you. Our expertise is yours for the asking. We are here to help. Contact us today.

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Jury awards 89 year-old woman $1.1 million for exposure to asbestos from husband’s work clothes.

It’s common knowledge by now that working in and around asbestos can lead to lung cancer, mesothelioma and other serious and often fatal lung disorders. But what’s lesser known is that those that have worked with the deadly substance may have unknowingly exposed their loved ones to asbestos. This exposure can just as easily cause family members to fall ill as it can the worker themselves.

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This was exactly what happened to 89 year-old Phyllis Granville from Lynnwood who was awarded $1.1 million after a King County jury found that exposure from asbestos her husband brought home on him from work caused mesothelioma – a rare form of cancer. Mrs. Granville was represented by Bergman Draper Ladenburg, asbestos and mesothelioma experts, who successfully argued that the second-hand exposure caused her cancer.

Who Was At Fault for Mrs. Granville’s Illness?

The lawsuit was filed against 13 defendants who manufactured and sold floor tiles that her husband Donald worked with as a floor tile installer. Bergman Draper Ladenburg argued that the manufacturers and distributors knew the tile contained deadly asbestos and was unsafe to work with, but withheld that information. If the risks of the asbestos-containing tile had been made clear to Donald, he could have taken precautions against exposing himself and his wife.

Donald unknowingly exposed his wife of over 70 years to asbestos through his work clothes. After a day of laying tile, he would come home to Phyllis who took care of his work clothes – handling and laundering them – which exposed her on a daily basis to the toxic substance. Even hugging and touching him exposed her to fibers on his clothes, skin and hair. Phyllis says, “I never imagined Donald’s work would ever end up giving me cancer.”

How Is the Asbestos-Caused Illness Affecting Her Life?  

Since the onset of symptoms, Phyllis’ health has disintegrated leaving her tethered to an oxygen machine to breathe, unable to leave her home. Her prognosis is grim – mesothelioma is a fatal illness – no treatment will cure it – there is no scenario for recovery. The only question is how long Phyllis will live – likely no more than a few months, perhaps a few years – and what quality of life she will have.

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Mesothelioma is a very aggressive cancer that destroys lung tissue and can spread to the heart and abdomen, impairing the functionality of these organs. According to attorney Matthew Bergman, this case was important because “The jury recognized that demonstrable harm has been done to asbestos victims. But more importantly, the verdict shows that asbestos exposure has significantly impacted people who were not present at contaminated work sites at all. We believe that the sites had a present imperative to warn their employees about the risk of asbestos contact and also subsequent dispersion.”

What Happens After the Verdict?

For those stricken with mesothelioma and other asbestos-induced diseases, the last few months or years of their life can be painful and progressively of less quality. Going from housebound to bedridden is the natural progression. Pain medication can address symptoms, but the inevitably of the disease is difficult for many to deal with emotionally. For Phyllis, she has more to worry about than just herself. She says, “It’s hard enough for us to start battling my mesothelioma, but now Donald is afraid he’s going to contract it too. We’re so thankful Bergman Draper Ladenburg helped us to get the verdict.”

This settlement will not restore Mrs. Granville to health, but it will make her final months more comfortable and ensure she can have the best medical care. Bergman says, “We are very pleased we were able to provide the Granvilles some measure of financial security while they fight the effects of this horrible disease.”

Why Is This Verdict Important?

This verdict reflects a milestone in asbestos litigation. Beyond holding those responsible for exposing workers to asbestos, this expands their liability to include family members exposed second-hand. Not only is this important for asbestos cases, but it sends a clear signal to manufacturers of other potentially dangerous products that they will be held liable when they use unsafe materials, don’t protect workers and try to conceal the risks of their products at the cost of human lives.

Bergman added, “This was an extraordinarily difficult case to bring to trial. In most cases, mesothelioma victims had direct exposure to asbestos. While the science is clear that people like Donald can bring it home on clothes and transmit it through hugging his wife, or having her wash his clothes, these concepts are much more difficult to illustrate to a jury.”

How We Are Helping Asbestos Victims

Seattle law firm Bergman Draper Ladenburg focuses on representing individuals and families who have been harmed by powerful interests. They built their reputation on serious asbestos disease claims and are expanding their practice to benzene and predatory lending cases. Matthew Bergman is the firm’s managing partner and one of seven lawyers across the nation who negotiated a $4 billion national settlement with the Halliburton Corporation for asbestos liabilities, approximately $30 million of which went to Bergman Draper Ladenburg clients residing primarily in the Pacific Northwest.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos-induced lung cancer or disease, contact us to find out what your rights are to a settlement. For more information, visit www.bergmanlegal.com.

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Defining a disease

Once rare, malignant mesothelioma is the most serious of asbestos-related diseases.  Though mesothelioma is still relatively uncommon, numbers of individuals with the disease are growing due to more sophisticated screening measures and increased understanding of the cycle of latency of the disease.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer developing in the lining of the lungs and occasionally abdomen.

Pleural mesothelioma affects the lung’s lining in the chest and represents the majority of mesothelioma incidence.  Peritoneal mesothelioma, affecting the abdominal cavity, and pericardial mesothelioma, affecting the cardiac cavity are less common.

In the majority of patients, most of whom are over 60 years of age, symptoms like shortness of breath and chest pain can mimic other ailments.  And since mesothelioma can take 15 to 50 years to develop, it can be a challenge to diagnose.  Specialists with more experience can be more adept at catching the disease.

Diagnosis and Prognosis

Diagnosis requires a body scan, either through magnetic resonance image (MRI) or computer topography (CT scan).  These images can help to locate areas of concern and determine size, which informs surgeons where to perform biopsies.

Caught in its early stages mesothelioma is treatable with chemotherapy, radiation treatments, and some surgical interventions.  Even in later stages, these are treatments that may be employed in varying ways, depending on whether the cancer is localized or has spread.

Unfortunately, because of the challenges with diagnosis, the disease is usually caught in later stages and has a poor prognosis.  Even still, advances in treatment can help extend formerly grim prognoses.

Understanding causes

Knowing what mesothelioma is and where it comes from can help guide doctors in coming to a correct diagnosis earlier, helping lead to better outcomes.  A doctor who hears a patient say, “I’m having chest pains and shortness of breath” might assume cardiovascular issues and test to that end.

But a doctor, upon hearing, “I worked in the building trades in the 60s and wonder if it might be mesothelioma” might take a more assertive diagnosis stance.  Additionally, earlier diagnosis can help get patients compensation through legal action.

Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos.  Asbestos is a strong, fireproof and affordable mineral that was used extensively in shipbuilding in World War II, where the material was used to wrap the pipes, line the boilers, and cover engine and turbine parts.

Asbestos was also used in construction and other trades through the 1960s. Drywall and joint compound, plaster and mud used asbestos, as did many types of flooring, and “popcorn” ceilings. In dentistry, asbestos was used in dental cast linings, and brake pads and shoes have also used this material.

In the 1970s, court documents proved asbestos industry officials knew of the dangers of the material, but didn’t communicate these risks. Consequently, the use of asbestos declined, and the asbestos companies are financially liable for diseases like mesothelioma.

Getting help

Because asbestos companies knowingly subjected thousands of workers to unnecessary risks, they are legally bound to make things right.  Bergman Draper Ladenburg is a firm committed to seeking justice for those impacted, and the ones they love.  Contact us to find out more about your rights and how we can help you.

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The Northwest’s Best Mesothelioma firm, Bergman Draper Ladenburg received “Notable Case Outcome” status in the August 2012 issue of The American Association for Justice Trial magazine

The article was published in the national magazine serving the legal profession, in the “Notable Case Outcomes from Coast to Coast” section, and it outlines a December case won by Bergman Draper Ladenburg.

Plaintiff Counsel was AAJ member Matthew P. Bergman, bringing forward the citation Hammett v. Columbia Steamship Co., No. 11-2-12255-7 SEA (Washington, King County Superior Court, December 15, 2011.)

The plaintiff, Roger Hammett, worked aboard the merchant vessel SS Seattle for 67 days in 1966.  In that time, he sailed from Seattle, Washington, to Anchorage and Kodiak Island, Alaska and back.

During that trip, Hammett was exposed to asbestos fibers from pipe insulation that was being stripped from steam pipes on the ship.  In that brief exposure, Hammett received enough exposure to develop mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and abdomen; it is the most serious of asbestos-related diseases.  It can be difficult for doctors to detect because symptoms can mimic other common ailments.

Some common-seeming symptoms might include chest pain, shortness of breath, chronic cough, effusions of the chest and abdomen, and the presence of blood in lung fluid.  Prognosis for the disease is typically poor.

Hammett received his diagnosis of the disease 45 years after his exposure on board the SS Seattle.  The passage of substantial periods of time between exposure and diagnosis is a common feature of this disease.

Hammett sued the Columbia Steamship Company under the Jones Act and general maritime law.  His allegations were that the shipping company failed to warn him of the dangers of asbestos and provide him with adequate protective equipment.

Hammett also sued the Washington State Ferries, where he was a deckhand for 30 years after his work on the SS Seattle.  He alleged similar claims, and settled with the WSF before trial for a confidential amount.

The Columbia Steamship Company argued that Hammett’s exposure was too brief to have caused his disease.

Despite the brief exposure time, the jury awarded Hammett 1.45 million dollars, allocating fault at 70 percent to the Columbia Steamship Company and 30 percent to Washington State Ferries.

Sadly, Roger Hammett passed away from mesothelioma less than a year after the jury’s award.

Allow Bergman Draper Ladenburg fight for you, or someone you love who has had life impacted by mesothelioma.  Contact the best northwest mesothelioma firm to find out how you can achieve justice.

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How can you tell if your automobile’s brakes contain asbestos?

When in doubt, assume that they do.

Although asbestos regulation began in earnest in the late 1970s, asbestos has never been entirely banned in the United States. The automobile industry continues to make use of asbestos in some brake and clutch assemblies. While most modern vehicles do not contain asbestos, as recently as the summer of 2012 a major Chinese car manufacturer was forced to recall its new cars from the Australian market, where asbestos is strictly forbidden. In 2004, the International Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health published a scathing criticism of brake manufacturers’ attempts to corrupt medical literature and escape liability for asbestos exposure.

Asbestos is most dangerous when it is friable, meaning that it crumbles easily, creating inhalable fibers which can eventually lead to fatal forms of lung cancer. In general, the Consumer Products Safety Commission advises that products containing asbestos remain undisturbed, unless damaged. Obviously, this advice cannot be entirely followed in the automobile repair industry. Brakes must be inspected, maintained, and replaced on a regular basis to ensure their safety. Because brake pads degrade over time and produce dust, exposure to dangerous inhalable fibers is possible if proper precautions are not taken.

What Can I do to Prevent Asbestos Exposure While Working on my Car?

The best way to prevent possible asbestos exposure during car maintenance is to take your car to a professional auto mechanic. If you must work on your vehicle at home, the Environmental Protection Agency has published a list of best practices for preventing asbestos exposure among brake and clutch repair workers, including a list of dos and don’ts for home mechanics:

Work Practice Don’ts for Home Mechanics

It is recommended that you:

• Do not use compressed air for cleaning. Compressed air blows dust into the air.
• Do not clean brakes or clutches with a dry rag, brush (wet or dry), or garden hose.
• Do not use an ordinary wet/dry vac without a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to vacuum dust. Invisible particles of brake or clutch dust can stay in the air and on your clothes long after a job is complete.
• Avoid taking work clothing inside the home or tracking dust through the house after performing brake and clutch work to prevent exposing your family to dust particles that may contain asbestos.

Work Practice Do’s for Home Mechanics:

It is recommended that you:

• Use pre-ground, ready-to-install parts.
• If a brake or clutch lining must be drilled, grooved, cut, beveled, or lathe-turned, use low speeds to keep down the amount of dust created.
• Use machinery with a local exhaust dust collection system equipped with HEPA filtration to prevent dust exposures and work area contamination.
• Change into clean clothes before going inside the home and wash soiled clothes separately.
• Minimize exposure to others by keeping bystanders, as well as food and drinks, away from the work area.

For more information on how to reduce your risk of asbestos exposure during auto repair work, see the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s bulletin on asbestos and brake repair work, and the Administration’s regulations for automobile mechanics.

What Can I do If I Have Been Exposed to Asbestos?

Some of the dangers of asbestos exposure were understood as early as the 1930s, yet employers and manufacturers continued to take few safety precautions, placing untold numbers of workers at risk.  While today employers are required to follow specific regulations dictating that brake and clutch assemblies be enclosed and handled with impermeable sleeves, these regulations were not enacted until 1994. If you have been exposed to asbestos from working with automotive parts and suffer from an asbestos-related illness, you may be eligible for compensation. Call Bergman Draper Ladenburg today, for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.

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This month, Seattle law firm Bergman Draper Ladenburg won an important victory for victims of asbestos exposure. By a 4-1 vote, Washington State’s high court overruled an appellate court’s ruling that the manufacturer of respirators designed to be worn by asbestos workers could not be held liable for failing to warn other workers who may have come in contact with dangerous asbestos fibers carried on the respirators.

In Macias v. Saberhagen Holdings Inc. the plaintiff worked as a tool keeper in a shipyard, from 1978 to 2004. As part of his regular employment duties he cleaned respirators worn by other workers, including those who worked with asbestos.  In 2008 he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a deadly form of cancer caused by the asbestos fibers he inhaled while cleaning and handling respirators.

Chief Justice Barbara Madsen found that earlier cases limiting liability for products not in the chain of asbestos distribution did not apply in this case, because the express purpose of the respirators was to filter out hazardous airborne contaminants, such as asbestos.  “Filtering out such contaminants, including asbestos, is the exact reason that the respirators were used; removing asbestos and other contaminants was the very function for which the respirators were intended.”

Earlier precedents cited by the appellate court did not apply, said Madsen, because “in Simonetta and Braaten, the manufacturers did not manufacture products that inherently involved the danger of exposure to asbestos. Here, the respirator manufacturers manufactured products that inherently involved the danger of exposure to asbestos when the products were used exactly as intended and for the purpose for which they were intended.”

The defense’s reliance on Simonetta and Braaten went too far, said Matthew Bergman, founding partner of Bergman Draper Ladenburg. “What the defendants interpreted those cases as saying is that, unless the manufacturer actually made the asbestos, no liability can be imposed in any circumstances.”

Macias v. Saberhagen Holdings brings clarity to asbestos liability suits in Washington State. It contradicts a recent California Supreme Court case which relied in part on Washington’s appellate court ruling in Macias, to find that a sailor’s mesothelioma was not the fault of a valve manufacturer whose products were often lined with asbestos.

Matthew Bergman described the court’s finding as a return to principles of basic tort law. “The analysis goes back to basic tort principles — which is if you design a product that is intended to be used with asbestos or some other harmful substance, even if you didn’t make the harmful substance, you have a duty to exercise reasonable care as a manufacturer.

This news is also posted in The National Law Journal.

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Kool Deck is a cement-like deck topping with a “cool” feel, manufactured by Mortex. Like many other building and construction materials, Kool Deck once contained asbestos, as part of its cement mixture. Asbestos vanished from most building materials following regulations imposed in the late 1970s, however manufacturers were permitted to sell off their existing stocks of asbestos containing materials. If your pool or patio has a Kool Deck surface that was installed prior to the mid-1980s, it may contain asbestos. Do not attempt to remove older Kool Deck yourself.

Testing Kool Deck for Asbestos

If your Kool Deck was installed prior to 1978, it is safe to assume that it contains asbestos. If you are not sure when your decking was installed, you may want to have it tested. Many home improvement sites recommend taking a sample, to send to a lab for testing. Keep in mind, however, that any sample no matter how carefully taken will require disturbing the material and possibly releasing asbestos fibers. For your protection and peace of mind, employ a professionally licensed asbestos inspector to inspect your deck and test it for asbestos.

Asbestos in My Kool Deck, What Do I Do?

As counter-intuitive as it sounds, your best alternative may be to disturb the decking as little as possible. Asbestos is most dangerous when it is friable, meaning it crumbles easily or produces a powder, potentially releasing tiny fibers into the air. Generally, the asbestos contained in Kool Deck is considered to be non-friable, unless it is damaged or decaying. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, “usually the best thing is to LEAVE asbestos material that is in good condition ALONE.”

Take care not to chip, nail, drill, tack, or otherwise disturb your deck. If the decking material is damaged in some way or you feel you must remove it, contact your regional EPA office to locate a licensed asbestos abatement contractor. Asbestos removal is a hazardous process best undertaken only by a qualified professional.

Proper Asbestos Disposal

Once removed, asbestos containing materials must be bagged in special asbestos disposal bags, with asbestos warning labels. Asbestos containing materials should only be disposed of at official asbestos disposal sites. Disposal requirements will differ, depending on your location. Contact your regional Environmental Protection Agency office for more information, or protect yourself from potential liability by hiring a licensed asbestos contractor to remove and dispose of your asbestos-containing decking material. In addition to the significant risks to your health, improper asbestos disposal may result in fines, civil liability, or other penalties.

Help for Asbestos Exposure Victims

For many years, building products manufacturers were aware of the risks associated with asbestos exposure, yet they continued to manufacture products containing asbestos. If you or someone close to you has developed a disease related to asbestos exposure, you may be entitled to compensation. Help may be available to cover the costs of medical bills and work missed due to illness. If you or someone you love has suffered harm due to asbestos exposure, contact Bergman Draper Ladenburg today, for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation

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Weyerhaeuser Everett

Weyerhaeuser’s presence in Everett Washington began in 1902. For 90 years, the company engaged in a variety of activities in Everett including sulfite pulp manufacturing, saw milling, ship building, shingle milling, and log handling. At the height of its operation as a pulp mill, Weyerhaeuser’s Everett facility produced 300 tons of pulp each day. By the late 20^th century, Everett’s economy began to lean toward more high-tech industries, such as aerospace. Weyerhaeuser phased out its operations in Everett in a series of steps from 1980 to the closure of its last site in 1992.

Prior to the late 1970s, asbestos was a common construction material. Valued for its insulating ability and fire-retardant properties, asbestos was frequently found in ceiling and floor tiles, pipe insulation, industrial adhesives, and a wide variety of other applications. Asbestos containing materials are most dangerous when they are friable, meaning that they crumble easily when disturbed, creating small inhalable fibers. Mill workers who encountered crumbling or exposed materials containing asbestos may have been exposed to these dangerous fibers.

Weyerhaeuser left a tremendous environmental mark on the City of Everett.  Cleanup at the company’s Mill A site, which closed in 1980, continues to this day. In 2009, the Port of Everett solicited bids for asbestos abatement at a former Weyerhaeuser building, including removal of attic insulation. An engineer hired by the port estimated project costs at approximately $50,000.

In addition to asbestos hazards in the mill’s building materials, the pulp and paper industry itself may have exposed workers to harmful asbestos fibers.  Asbestos was present in complicated paper mill machinery, which maintenance workers would often be required to open and enter. A 2002 study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that pulp and paper industry maintenance workers were more likely to develop lung cancer than workers in other occupations.  A 2005 study of Italian paper mill workers also found that workers who operated paper drying machines may have been exposed to asbestos.

Some of the dangers associated with asbestos exposure were understood as early as the 1930s. By the 1960s, a definitive link had been established between asbestos fibers and lung cancer. Unfortunately, employers like Weyerhaeuser continued to use asbestos without proper safety equipment until the late 1970s, placing untold numbers of workers at risk of serious harm. If you or a loved one worked at one of Weyerhaeuser’s Everett locations and suffered harm as a result of asbestos exposure, you may be eligible for compensation. Call Bergman Draper Ladenburg today, for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation

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Weyerhaeuser Mill, Enumclaw

The Weyerhaeuser Corporation, established in 1900, was once one of the largest employers in Washington State and the Pacific Northwest. The Enumclaw mill was founded in 1889 as the White River Tree Farm. White River specialized in finished lumber, in particular Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock, and Red Cedar. The mill supplied wood and lumber products to troops in the Spanish American War, as well as both world wars. Weyerhaeuser bought the mill from White River Logging Company in 1949. By the time of the mill’s closure in 2003, it employed 149 people. Weyerhaeuser demolished the mill in 2009, reclaiming much of the old-growth lumber, which could not be milled from today’s forests.

Downtown Enumclaw, Circa 1909

Although asbestos was not as common in the lumber mill industry as it was in paper mills, workers may have come into contact with asbestos fibers from the mill buildings themselves. For example, in 1998, a Klickitat County mill owner was fined $20,300 for improper handling of asbestos prior to demolition of the mill. In this case, asbestos was present in the mill’s powerhouse in amounts that could not be determined after the building’s demolition.

Prior to the late 1970s, asbestos was a common construction material. Valued for its insulating ability and fire-retardant properties, asbestos was frequently found in ceiling and floor tiles, pipe insulation, industrial adhesives, and a wide variety of other applications. Asbestos containing materials are most dangerous when they are friable, meaning that they crumble easily when disturbed, creating small inhalable fibers. Mill workers who encountered crumbling or exposed materials containing asbestos may have been exposed to these dangerous fibers.

Weyerhaeuser is no stranger to asbestos litigation. By 2002, the company had been named as a defendant in more than 2400 asbestos suits, 1400 of them from sailors claiming exposure on company ships in the 1940s.  Sailors were frequently exposed to asbestos from insulation which was present in engine rooms, as well as in their tight sleeping quarters.

Some of the dangers associated with asbestos exposure were understood as early as the 1930s. By the 1960s, a definitive link had been established between asbestos fibers and lung cancer. Unfortunately, employers like Weyerhaeuser continued to use asbestos without proper safety equipment until the late 1970s, placing untold numbers of workers at risk of serious harm. If you or a loved one worked at Weyerhaeuser’s Enumclaw mill and suffered harm as a result of asbestos exposure, you may be eligible for compensation. Call Bergman Draper Ladenburg today, for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.

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